In The Swing of Spring: An Indoor Hanging Garden

March 27, 2015

What’s better than that early spring moment when you spot the first brave, green bud breaking through the earth? There’s nothing like it, of course, but what if we told you we know of a very close runner-up? Designer, blogger and green thumb Amber Lewis of Amber Interiors recently talked us through the ins-and-outs of creating a lush, hardy and space-savvy indoor garden that’s as pleasing as the real McCoy. So, what’s better than that first sign of spring? Perhaps it’s living with green all year round

What is your favorite type of planter to use?

I love to stick with a simple hanging terracotta pot like the Tigris Hanging Garden Pots used in the photos. However, I also like to mix up the textures by using a woven basket, like these Zigzag Stripe Baskets, for other plants. But whatever your choice of planter, make sure that it has holes for drainage on the bottom. If you’re using a solid-bottomed pot, put the plant in a plastic pot with drainage holes first, then place that on top of a dish inside of the main pot. Pots within pots is the secret, y’all!

What are the best plants to choose for an indoor hanging garden?

Succulents, like jade, are no brainers for an indoor hanging garden. They prefer to have some sunshine, but stay alive without a ton of light. They grow slowly and barely need any water, so you can let them chill and they’ll still be green when you finally remember you were supposed to be caring for them.The ZZ plant is another good-looking slow-grower, but it’s toxic, so it’s perfect to hang out of the reach of kids and pets, especially since you rarely need to water it.Dieffenbachia can be grown as a tree, or it will look like a shrub if several are planted together in a single pot. This is another toxic plant for kids and pets, so it’s great for hanging.

Philodendron is one durable plant! It’s a favorite of indoor plant owners for its easy maintenance and ability to adapt well to low-light areas. Again, this happens to be a poisonous one, so keep an eye on your little ones.As far as ferns go, Boston fern is a tough plant that will live for a long time, but has a softer look to it. It requires some light and the soil should be kept damp regularly. Maidenhair is a favorite of mine. It’s such a pretty and delicate little plant. It lives best in indirect sunlight and creates a nice contrast to the rougher look of the succulents.Finally, if the only plant you’ve managed to keep alive so far is plastic, then a cactus is the perfect plant for you. No need to constantly water this guy; he’ll still stick around.

If you’re grouping a few different plants in one pot, how do you decide which ones go well together?

To make things easier on yourself, try to pick plants that require about the same amount of light and water. It’s cool to mix up the textures and colors within a pot, but make sure some of them have the same vibe so things don’t get too out of control.

What do you look for in a plant that you’re buying?

I look at the different types of color and texture each plant can bring to my space; I like to bring in a variety of plants, so it doesn’t become too monotonous. I try to stick to the plants that I know won’t die instantly if I go on vacation and space out on asking a friend to water them for me.